Cut-out.



PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906.

H. GEISENHG BR.

CUT-OUT.

APPLICATION FILED HAYS, 190s.

Fig.5.

Fig.4.

Inventor.

WiCnesses l-lenry Geisenhner s/MM UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

HENRY GEISENHONER, OF SCHENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CUT-OUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1c, 1906.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY GEIsENHoNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectad county of Schenectady, State of New Yorii, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Out-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electric cut-out devices, and more particularly to endent switches for use on incandescentamp and similar circuits.

As pendent switches have been constructed heretofore each switch has been provided with a single circuit-controlling means, so that where a plurality of lamps in a cluster or a chandelier were to be controlled by switches of this type it has been necessary either to connect the several lamps in series or to provide each of the lamps with an individual switch. The series arrangement is objectionable, for the reason that all the lamps in the series are necessaril lighted when only the light of one or two lamps is desired, and the arran ement of individual switches for the severa lam s is objectionable on account of its unsight iness.

The object of my invention is to provide a single, compact, and neat-a pearing pendent switch which shall be a aptedto independently control a plurality of electric circuits.

The invention will be readily understood upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Fi re 1 is a side elevation of a pendent switc embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is an axial section thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the insulating-base and parts carried thereby. Fig. 4 is a pers ective view of one of the retainin -plates. i 5 is a detail view of a switch-plunger, and ig. 6 is a top plan of the contactplate.

The switch shown in the drawings com- 3 rises a two-part metallic shell A, an insuating-base B, inclosed thereby and supporting a plurality of spring-pressed circuit-closing devices C, adapted to be moved by hand into locking engagement with a contactplate D, and a releasing device E, adapted when pressed to engage all the circuit-closing devices C that are in engagement with the contact-plate and disen age them therefrom.

The base B is made porcelain, with a cylindrical upper part 1, a hemispherical lower part 2 of ess radial dimension than the cyindrical upper part, and an intermediate shoulder 3. A plurality of arms or tions 4 extend out from the cylindrics 1 upper part1 at equidistant points, and each is provided with a radial groove of rectangular section for the reception of a circuit-closing device O. Intermediate the grooves 5 are other radial grooves 6 for the rece tion of the arms 7 of the contact-plate D. axial aperture 8, having an intermediate contracted or shouldered portion 9, extends through the base B for the reception of the releasing device E.

The contact-plate D is made with a ringshaped central ortion, from the outer edge of which the radial arms 7 project and from the inner ed e of which at points intermediate the radia arms 7 tongues 10 are bent up at an angle of about forty-five degrees. Each of the arms 7 is provided near its outer end with a screw-hole 11, the hole 11 in one arm receiving a bindin -screw 12 for the common return-wire of afi the circuits and the holes in the other arms receiving the secur-' lng-screws 13, which extend through the base parallel to its axis.

The circuit -closing devices C comprise short plungers each having a metallic rod 14, with a hooked head 14 at the inner end adapted when forced inward to en age a bent-up tongue 10 on the contactate D and screw-threaded at its other en into a metal plate 15 and the end of a prismatic bar 16, of lnsulation, of a size to loosely fit into a groove 5 in the base. The rods 14 are surrounded by helical springs 17, which impinge 'upon the metal plates 15 at one end and at the other upon the downturned ends 18 of the retaining-plates 19. Each of the retaining-plates 19 is provided with a T-shaped head provided at its opposite ends with screw-holes 20 for the reception of a securing-screw 21 and a binding-screw 22 for a lead-wire. The downturned ends 18 of the retaining-plates fit snugly in the inner ends of the grooves 5 and serve as stops for the inner ends of the spring 17 and for the hooked heads 14 in the outward travel of-the circuit-closing devices C. The T heads of the plates 19 span the grooves 5 and hold the circuit-closing devices therein.

The releasing device E comprises a metal projec- 1 plunger 23,v adapted to fit loose y in the contracted portion 9 ofthe axial aperture 8 in the base B, having its lower end screwthreaded to engage an insulating ush-button 24, adapted to travel freely in t e lower end of the aperture 8 against the tension of the of the face B and has at its upper edge seg-.

mental arms 28, between which the arms or projections 4 of the base project, and each of these arms 28 is provided with a s ring-clip 29. The up er art 30 of the she is made similar to t e ower part with segmental that they may be changed and modifie a releasing means common arms 31, which pass between the arms 4 of the base and inside of the'arms 28 of the lower part of the shell,- and each of the arms 31 is provided with'a shoulder 32 for engagement with a spri -clip 29. The upper part is provided with a inin 33 of fibrous insulation and a central bus material, whereby any exposed part of a leadwire is prevented from coming in contact with the-metal parts thereof.

I do not desire to restrict myself to the particular construction or arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, for it is apparent without departing from the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is',

1. An electrical switch comprising a plurality of independent spring-pressed circuitclosing devices, a common contact-plate adapted to hold said devices in closed position against the tension of their springs, and

' to'all of said devices. p

2. An electric switch comprising a pluortion '9 and the to engage the hooked ng 34 of insulating rality of independent spring-pressedcircuib, closing devices radially arranged about a common center, a common contact-plate adapted K to hold said devices in closed position against the tension of their springs, and a concentricall arranged releasing means common to a of said devices.

3. The combination of a base provided with radial arms or projections, and a twoart shell surrounding the body part of said eachpart of sai shell having segmental projections from its edge with recesses between them-for the reception of said radial arms or projections of the base, the se ental projections of one part havi intrega springclips and the pro'ections o the other art having shoulders ormed therein to inter ock with said spring-clips; I

4. The combination of a base provided with a radial channel, a terminal plate and a contact-plate seclired to said base, a springpressed switch member located in said channel, and connected electrically with said terminal and adapted to be moved intolocking engagementwith said contact-plate and a releasin --plunger movable axially in said gase an adapted to engage said switch memer. 5. The combination of a base provided with a plurality of radial channels, a plurality of terminal plates secured adjacent said channels, a contact-plate secured to said base concentrically, alurality of spring pressed switch members ocated in said channels and adapted when pressed inwardly to lockingly engage said contact-plate and electrically connect it with the respective terminal lates, and an axially-niovable'releasing-p unger adapted to engage said switch members.

1 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of May, 1903.

HENRY GEISENHONER.

1 Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL,- HELEN ORFORD. 

